The South Kitsap Chamber of Commerce is expected to begin seeking new leadership after president/CEO Matt Murphy confirmed he is vacating his position at the end of 2023.

Murphy has served in the role for the chamber, formerly the Port Orchard chamber since 2014 and served as a member of the chamber board before that. He has been an active member of the community, and his resignation was relatively unexpected.

“I’m a fourth generation South Kitsap resident,” he said. “It hurts to leave, and I’m just looking at this as an adventure.”

Murphy confirmed early reports of his resignation in a Dec. 12 interview, in which he said he would serve as the government and regional affairs director for another chamber of commerce. “I like what I’m going to be doing, and so that’s going to be a contributing factor too,” he said.

While declining to comment on the specifics of his decision to leave, he mentioned an increasing distaste for ongoing discussion and turmoil within the city of Port Orchard being a contributing factor.

“There is so much negativity in Port Orchard,” he said. “If you follow Facebook, you’ve got people b****ing about this and b****ing about that. You probably saw the whole Christmas tree thing, and it is toxic for Port Orchard.”